Tailgate position indicator

ABSTRACT

An indicator device for alerting the driver of a pickup truck to the orientation of the tailgate includes a housing assembly and an indicator assembly carried by and extending from the housing assembly. The housing assembly is attached to the tailgate of the pickup truck in a position that causes at least a portion of the indicator assembly to extend from the side of the truck so that the driver can see the extending portion in the side view mirror of the truck. Viewing the position of the indicator assembly allows the driver of the truck to ascertain the position of the tailgate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/439,430 which is a continuation-in-partapplication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/550,402 which is acontinuation-in-part application of U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,423 issued May23, 2000; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates generally to an indicating device. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a device for indicating theposition of a truck tailgate to a person sitting in the cab of thetruck. Specifically, the invention relates to an indicating deviceconnected directly to a truck tailgate which has an adjustableindicating rod that extends outwardly from a housing a distancesufficient that it may be seen from a person sitting in the cab of thetruck, the position of the rod indicating the position of the tailgate.

2. Background Information

A pickup truck is a vehicle upon the chassis of which is constructed aflat bed to which are connected low walls circumferentially constructedabout the bed. The truck bed is designed to haul large solid objects andloose objects such as sand and gravel. To facilitate the loading andunloading of large solid objects and to facilitate the unloading ofloose materials, the rearward wall of the bed is hingedly attached tothe lower surface of the truck bed whereby when released, the rearwardwall or tailgate moves angularly outward about the bed from a verticalposition to a horizontal position creating a shelf extending outwardfrom the rear of the truck.

Trucks contain mirrors and other devices that allow an occupant in thetruck to adequately view the roadway to the rear of the vehicle. Suchmirrors do not, however, provide an adequate view of the tailgate whenthe vehicle is in a loaded condition or when the truck bed is covered bya tarp or tonneau cover. In such situations, the tailgate is obstructedfrom the driver's view.

Use of a truck on a roadway with the tailgate in a horizontal positioncreates a hazardous situation which should be avoided. The bumping andjarring of the vehicle on the roadway may cause the contents of thetruck bed to become dislodged and either fall onto the roadway creatinga hazardous situation to other drivers or may fall directly onto aclosely following vehicle. Even with the truck bed in an unloaded state,the tailgate in a horizontal position is of a very low profile, makingthe horizontal tailgate difficult to discern by motorists to the rear ofthe truck, creating the potential for collision with the rearward-mostedge of the tailgate.

Thus, the operator of the pickup truck must constantly be aware of theposition of the tailgate. In situations in which the view of thetailgate is obstructed from the driver, the driver must stop the truckand exit the vehicle to directly observe from the rear the position ofthe tailgate. This results in significant wasted time and reducedefficiency for both the truck and its operator.

The need thus exists in the art for a low cost mechanism which allowsthe truck operator to quickly ascertain the position of the vehicletailgate from the cab of the truck to minimizing risks to others andmaximizing the efficiency of the operator and of the truck itself.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objectives of the invention include providing a device for quicklyindicating to the driver of a truck the position of the tailgate withoutthe need for the driver to stop the truck, dismount, and view thetailgate directly.

Another objective is to provide a device which may be used to alert thevehicle driver to the potentially dangerous condition in which thetailgate is in the horizontal position.

Still another objective is to provide a device which may be used toalert the driver of the truck to a condition in which the truck's cargomay potentially be lost due to the failure of the tailgate to be in thevertical position where it otherwise would serve to retain the loadcontained therein.

Yet another objective is to provide an indicator device which issubstantially weather resistant.

Another objective is to provide an indicator device which is mountableto a wide variety of tailgates and is non-damaging to the surfaces towhich it is mounted.

A further objective is to provide an indicator device which will benon-damaging to other objects which may strike it or otherwise come intocontact with it.

Still a further objective is to provide an indicator device which can beadjusted by hand and without the use of additional tools.

Yet a further objective is to provide an indicator device which is ofsimple construction and is inexpensive to manufacture.

These and other objectives and advantages of the invention are obtainedfrom the device for indicating truck tailgate position, the generalnature of which can be stated as including a housing assembly; anindicator assembly carried by and extending from the housing assembly;and attachment means for attaching the housing assembly to the tailgateof a pickup truck.

The invention also provides a customizable indicator rod having aplurality of indicator bodies. The rod is designed to be shortened bythe user after the rod is connected to the tailgate so that only one ortwo indicator bodies are visible from the cab. This feature allows theindicator to be used with a wide variety of trucks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the bestmodes in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, areset forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings andare particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in theappended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tailgate position indicator of thepresent invention attached to a tailgate with the tailgate in a closed,vertical position;

FIG. 1A is a plan view of a pickup truck with the tailgate positionindicator device of the present invention installed thereon and showingsite lines depicting how the indicator is observable in a mirror fromthe cab of the truck;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tailgate position indicator of thepresent invention with the pickup truck tailgate in the open orhorizontal position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the tailgate positionindicator of the present invention with the indicator rod in a retractedposition;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the indicator of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 showing the indicator rodin a fully extended position;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the tailgate positionindicator of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an elevation of the indicator of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view as taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9 showingthe plunger in a released position;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 10 showing the plunger inthe depressed position;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view as taken along line 12-12 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 12 and showing the plungerin a depressed position and the indicator rod in an extended position;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the tailgate positionindicator of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an elevation of the indicator of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a plan view similar to FIG. 14 showing the indicator rod inan extended position;

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of a fourth embodiment of the tailgateposition indicator of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is an elevation of the indicator of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 18 with a portion of the housing blockin section;

FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 20 showing the position of theindicator assembly being adjusted to an extended position.

FIG. 22 is an elevation of a fifth embodiment of the tailgate positionindicator of the present invention; and

FIG. 23 is a rear elevation view of a truck showing the position of thetailgate position indicator with respect to the tailgate and the lightsof the truck with a portion of the tailgate position indicator beingremoved after being correctly sized.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The improved tailgate position indicator of the present invention isindicated generally by the numeral 1 in the accompanying drawings.Tailgate position indicator 1 includes an indicator assembly 2 and ahousing assembly 4. FIGS. 1 and 2 depict the invention in its typicalenvironment where it is attached to the upper end of a truck tailgate 10at a location distal from the tailgate's hinged attachment to the truckbed 11. Indicator 1 generally includes a housing assembly 4 from whichextends an indicator assembly 2. Housing assembly 4 is adapted to allowthe length of indicator assembly 2 extending from housing assembly 4 tobe viewed by a person in the cab of the truck so that the person candetermine the position of tailgate 10.

Indicator assembly 2 includes an indicator rod 7 and an indicator body 8attached to a first end of indicator rod 7. Indicator rod 7 may bemanufactured of a strong, resilient material of a nominally circularcross section, in which the diameter is significantly smaller than itslength. In one embodiment of the present invention, indicator rod 7 isin the form of a tightly wound spring of steel, although alternativematerials may be used without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention. One such alternative material is a light-transmittingmaterial that is described in more detail below. While tailgate positionindicator 1 typically includes indicator body 8, indicator 1 may be usedwithout indicator body 8 without impairing its functionality.

Housing assembly 4 includes a screw 6, a container 12, and a spool 14.Spool 14 is adapted to selectively rotate within container 12 to wrapindicator rod 7 about itself to vary the length of rod 7 extending fromhousing assembly 4. Screw 6 may be used to lock the position of spool 14with respect to container 12 to thus lock the position of indicator rod7.

Container 12 includes a substantially cylindrical side wall 30 having aninner surface 38 and an outer surface 39. Container 12 further includesat one end a substantially circular lower wall 28 attachedcircumferentially to side wall 30. At the other end, side wall 30terminates in a toroidal face 32. Side wall 30 and lower wall 28 definea cavity in container 12. An adhesive layer 26 is disposed on lower wall28 on a side opposite the circumferential attachment of lower wall 28with side wall 30. A hollow cylindrical hub 17 having internal threads18 on its inner surface projects upwardly from lower wall 28 in anorientation coaxial with side wall 30 and internally disposed tocontainer 12. Hub 17 may be integrally formed with wall 28 or may beattached by appropriate means.

Container 12 further includes a hollow cylindrical neck 20, extendingsubstantially perpendicular to the center axis of container 12. Thecenterline of neck 20 is also non-radially disposed with respect tocontainer 12.

Spool 14 includes a circular body 44 of approximately the same orslightly larger diameter than the diameter defined by outer surface 39.Circular body 44 is formed with a thru-bore 42 of circular cross sectionperpendicular to the plane of circular body 44. A lower face of circularbody 44 contains an annular ridge 46. The outermost arcuate face ofannular ridge 46 defines a guide edge 40 which is of approximately, butslightly less than, the diameter of inner surface 38. Spool 14 furtherincludes a cylindrical wall 48 extending downwardly from body 44. Wall48 includes two substantially annular flanges 33 and 35 that cooperatewith wall 48 to define a storage channel 34. Storage channel 34 isadapted to receive almost the entire length of indicator rod 7 asdepicted in FIG. 6. An anchor slot 49 is formed in wall 48 to receiveone end of rod 7. Indicator rod 7 may thus be wound into channel 34 whenwall 48 is rotated.

Screw 6 includes a shank 22 having external threads 16 formed thereonalong a portion of its length which are adapted to cooperate withinternal threads 18. Screw 6 further includes a shoulder 24 which isconcentric with shank 22 and of a somewhat larger outer diameter thanshank 22. Shank 22 is of a circular cross section and of a diameterslightly less than that defined by thru-bore 42. The outer diameter ofshoulder 24 is of a diameter larger than that of thru-bore 42. Shoulder24 contains a flat toroidal bearing surface 52 perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of shank 22. Screw 6 may also include a knurled thumbknob 50 adjacent shoulder 24 and disposed at the end distal to externalthreads 16.

When housing assembly 4 is assembled, spool 14 is placed in relationwith container 12 such that annular guide edge 40 lies adjacent innersurface 38, and such that storage channel 34 and annular ridge 46 areinternal to the cavity formed by container 12. In such an orientation,thru-bore 42 is concentric with internal threads 18. Screw 6 is insertedinto thru-bore 42 and external threads 16 are threaded into internalthreads 18. When screw 6 is tightened, spool 14 is frictionally held inangular orientation with respect to container 12. Because indicator rod7 is fixedly attached to wall 48 and disposed in storage channel 34,when screw 6 is tightened, indicator assembly 2 is secured in relationto housing assembly 4. When screw 6 is loosened, spool 14 is free, asshown in FIG. 7, to be rotated about shank 22, and such action causesindicator rod 7 to be rotatably retracted into or extended fromcontainer 12, depending upon the direction in which spool 14 is rotated.Indicator body 8 serves as a stop beyond which indicator rod 7 shouldnot be retracted.

Adhesive layer 26 may be used to fixedly attach lower wall 28 to theouter surface of the truck tailgate 10 as is indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2.Spool 14 may be rotated such that indicator rod 7 and indicator body 8extend past truck tail lamp 54 to a degree that indicator rod 7 andindicator body 8 are visible from the cab of the truck. Screw 6 may betightened to retain indicator rod 7 and indicator body 8 in the extendedposition. When in the extended position, a person in the cab of thetruck is able to look at the position of rod 7 and quickly and easilydetermine if tailgate 10 is up or down. When a person does not want touse indicator 1, screw 6 may be loosened to allow spool 14 to be rotatedto retract indicator rod 7 into a retracted position. In view of theforegoing, it may be understood that indicator 1 provides a device thatallows a person sitting in the cab of a truck to determine the positionof his tailgate 10 by viewing the position of the indicator rod 7.

A second alternative embodiment of the improved tailgate positionindicator of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral100 in FIGS. 8 through 13. As in the first embodiment of the invention,tailgate position indicator 100 includes an indicator assembly 102 and ahousing assembly 104. Housing assembly 104 is adapted to receive andhold indicator assembly 102 in an adjustable manner such that the lengthof indicator assembly 102 that extends from housing assembly 104 may bevaried.

Indicator assembly 102 includes an indicator rod 107 which carries at afirst end a first indicator body 108 and carries at a second end asecond indicator body 108′. Indicator rod 107 is in the form of atightly wound spring of steel, although alternative materials may beemployed. Indicator assembly 102 passes through housing assembly 104such that indicator bodies 108 and 108′ are disposed on either side ofhousing assembly 104.

Housing assembly 104 includes a block 112, a plunger 106, an adhesivelayer 126, and a compression spring 114. Compression spring 114 isdisposed within block 112 to constantly urge plunger 106 outwardly awayfrom block 112. Block 112 is formed with a passageway 116 extendingthrough block 112 in a position to intersect with plunger 106. Plunger106 is received within a hole 118 in block 112 that is substantiallyperpendicular to passageway 116. Passageway 116 is slightly larger insize than indicator rod 107 such that indicator rod 107 can freely slidein passageway 116. A stop 110 defines the lower surface of hole 118.Hole 118 is of a circular cross section of a diameter slightly largerthan that of compression spring 114.

Plunger 106 includes a shank 122 which includes a flat terminal edge132. Shank 122 is of the same or slightly larger diameter than that ofcompression spring 114, yet is of a slightly smaller diameter than thatof hole 118. Shank 122 is formed with a channel 124 therein, withchannel 124 including a lower edge 128 and an upper edge 130. Channel124 is larger in size than indicator rod 107 such that indicator rod 107may slide through channel 124. Plunger 106 may also include a thumbbutton 120 to facilitate depression of plunger 106 against spring 114,however plunger 106 may be operated without a thumb button 120 withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention.

When housing assembly 104 is assembled, compression spring 114 restsagainst stop 110. Plunger 106 extends into hole 118 such that terminaledge 132 rests adjacent compression spring 114. Channel 124 ispositioned in shank 122 such that when indicator rod 107 rests insideboth passageway 116 and channel 124, compression spring 114 causes anominal compressive force on terminal edge 132, as is depicted in FIG.10, causing lower edge 128 to engage indicator rod 107, thus urgingindicator rod 107 against channel 116, and thereby frictionally securingindicator rod 107 in relation to block 112. When plunger 106 isdepressed with sufficient force to overcome the nominal compressiveforce imposed by compression spring 114 on terminal edge 132, asdepicted in FIG. 11, lower edge 128 is released from contact withindicator rod 107, without upper edge 130 coming into contact withindicator rod 107, and indicator rod 107 can be freely moved in relationto block 112. FIG. 13 demonstrates tailgate position indicator 100 withindicator rod 107 in an extended state. Indicator rod 107 can be movedbetween extended and retracted states as is shown in FIG. 12, upondepression of plunger 106 and sliding movement of indicator rod 107.

A third embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally bynumeral 201 in FIGS. 14 through 16. Tailgate position indicator 201includes an indicator assembly 202 carried by and extending from ahousing block 212. Indicator assembly 202 includes an indicator rod 207having a first end carrying a first indicator body 208 and having asecond end carrying a second indicator body 208′. Indicator rod 207 isresilient and may be fabricated from a tightly wound spring of steel,although alternative materials may be used that are resilient.

Housing block 212 defines a first channel 216, a second channel 214, anda third channel 218 with second channel 214 connecting first channel 216with third channel 218 to form a continuous channel through block 212. Afirst surface 217 of block 212 defines first channel 216. A secondsurface 215 of block 212 defines second channel 214. As may be seen inthe drawings, second surface 215 connects with the outer surface ofblock 212 such that a portion of second channel 214 extends entirelythrough block 212. This opening is slightly larger that the diameter ofindicator rod 207. Surface 215 is, however, configured to provide a lip223 that retains rod 207 in channel 214. A third surface 219 of block212 defines third channel 218. The combination of all three channels216, 214, and 218 form a single curved, or U-shaped, continuous channelthrough block 212 with the entrance and exit of the channel beingdisposed on the same side of block 212.

An adhesive layer 226 is disposed on a flat surface of block 212 that issubstantially parallel to a plane formed by the centerlines of eachchannel 216, 214, and 218. Adhesive 226 is adapted to attach indicator201 to the outer surface of a tailgate 10 without damaging the finish oftailgate 10.

When in use, indicator rod 207 passes through first channel 216, secondchannel 214, and thereafter through third channel 218. In this position,indicator rod 207 is frictionally held in block 212 due to the naturalresilience of indicator rod 207 which, when in its bent condition, isurged against surfaces 217, 215, and 219.

Indicator rod 207 is adjusted with relation to block 212 by pushingeither the first or second end of indicator rod 207 further into block212 causing indicator rod 207 to pop out of contact with second surface215 and extend through the opening of second channel 214 to the exteriorof block 212. In such position, indicator rod 207 is no longerfrictionally held against second surface 215 and the position ofindicator rod 207 may be adjusted with respect to block 212.

In any of the embodiments of the invention described above, indicatorrod 7, 107, or 207 may be constructed of a tough, resilient,light-transmitting material capable of gathering and transmitting lightproduced by truck tail lamp 54 so that indicator rod 7, 107, or 207 canbe easily observed by the driver of the truck in dark conditions. Such amaterial may be a fiberoptic material or a substantially clear plastichaving light transmission properties.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally bythe numeral 300 in FIGS. 17-21. Tailgate position indicator 300 includesan indicator assembly 302 carried by and extending from a housing block312. Indicator assembly 302 includes an indicator rod 307 having a firstend carrying a first indicator body 308 and having a second end carryinga second indicator body 308′. Indicator rod 307 is preferably fabricatedfrom a light-transmitting material and is in the form of an elongatedrod having a substantially circular cross-section. Indicator rod 307 maybe substantially rigid but may also be fabricated to flex so that itwill not break if accidentally hit against another object. In otherembodiments of the invention, indicator rod 307 may be fabricated froman opaque plastic or a metal.

Each indicator body 308 and 308′ preferably includes a plurality ofsubstantially planar faces that cooperate together to form asubstantially round surface. The faces of indicator bodies 308 and 308′are configured to reflect light at a plurality of viewing angles so thatthey are more easily seen by the person sitting in the cab of the truckusing indicator 300. In the preferred embodiment, each indicator body308 and 308′ is substantially transparent.

Housing block 312 defines a first channel 316 that extends through block312 in a substantially linear fashion. Indicator rod 307 is slidablydisposed in first channel 316 allowing the relative positions ofindicator bodies 308 and 308′ to be adjusted with respect to housingblock 312. A friction body 317 is disposed against indicator rod 307 tocreate a frictional force between housing block 312 and indicator rod307. The frictional force between friction body 317 and indicator rod307 is sufficient to lock the position of rod 307 in place with respectto housing block 312 until intentionally moved by the user of device300. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, friction body 317 isdisposed in first channel 316. In other embodiments, friction body 317may be disposed on the outside of housing block 312. In still anotherembodiment, friction body 317 may be incorporated into rod 307 either byincreasing the diameter of rod 307 or by adding a separate layer to rod307. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, friction body 317 isfabricated from a felt material. In other embodiments, friction body 317may be fabricated from any appropriate material such as a foam, a cloth,a piece of wood, a piece of plastic, a piece of metal, sufficient tocreate a frictional force against rod 307. Friction body 317 is held inplace in channel 316 by appropriate connectors depending on the materialfrom which friction body 317 is fabricated. In the preferred embodimentwhere friction body 317 is fabricated from felt, a glue may holdfriction body 317 to housing block 312.

Indicator assembly 300 includes a housing assembly 304 that includeshousing block 312 and a connector 320. Connector 320 is in the form of aresilient clip having an upper jaw 322 connected to a lower jaw 324 by aresilient hinge 326. Jaws 322 and 324 as well as hinge 326 areconfigured to have a resting position wherein lower jaw 324 engages aprotrusion 328 extending downwardly from upper jaw 322. In otherembodiments of the invention, lower jaw 324 may directly contact upperjaw 322. Connector 320 is configured to allow device 300 to be connectedto essentially any thin piece of material on the tailgate of a trucksuch as the edge of a piece of sheet metal. In other embodiments of theinvention, connector 320 may be magnetic, adhesive, a suction device, orother devices known in the art for connecting body 312 to a tailgate.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally bythe numeral 400 in FIGS. 22 and 23. Tailgate position indicator 400generally includes elements similar to the fourth embodiment of theinvention discussed above and the same reference numbers are used torefer to these elements. As such, indicator 400 generally includes anindicator assembly 302 that is carried by and extends from a housingblock 312. In the fifth embodiment of the invention, indicator assembly302 includes an indicator rod 307 integrally formed with block 312. Aplurality of spaced indicator bodies 308 are carried by indicator rod307. Indicator body 308′ is optional in this embodiment and may not beincluded when indicator 400 is manufactured. The plurality of spacedindicator bodies 308 allow the overall length of indicator assembly 302to be adjusted or customized for the specific truck tail lamp 54 afterthe user clips block 312 to tailgate 10 as shown in FIG. 23. Indicator400 may be adjusted or customized by removing the extra bodies 308.Typically, the user will only need one body 308 extending beyond lamp54. The structure of indicator assembly 302 allows tailgate positionindicator 400 to be used with a variety of different trucks havingdifferent width tailgates 10 and lights 54.

Rod 307 may define a notch 402 disposed adjacent each indicator body308. Notch 402 allows the user to simply break rod 307 at the desiredlocation as shown in FIG. 23. If the user does not wish to break rod 307at notches 402, the user may sever rod 307 with an appropriate cuttingdevice such as a knife, clippers, or scissors.

The user installs tailgate position indicator 400 by clipping block 312to tailgate 10 with connector 320. The user then checks to see how manyindicator bodies 308 he can see through his mirror. The user thenremoves excess indicator bodies 308 as shown in FIG. 23. In thisembodiment, the position of indicator rod 307 is fixed with respect toblock 312 because they are integrally molded together in a single mold.The only adjustability is achieved by removing excess indicator bodies308. This embodiment allows provides a customizable indicator 400 to beintegrally molded as a one-piece element that requires no assembly aftermolding.

Accordingly, the improved tailgate position indicator apparatus issimplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficientdevice which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides foreliminating difficulties encountered with prior devices, and solvesproblems and obtains new results in the art.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way ofexample, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exactdetails shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of theinvention, the manner in which the tailgate position indicator isconstructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and theadvantageous new and useful results obtained; the new and usefulstructures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations areset forth in the appended claims.

1. A method of improving the safety of using a vehicle having a tailgateby using a tailgate position indicator to allow the driver to determinethe position of a tailgate at any time during normal use of the vehiclewherein the vehicle has a cab, a side view mirror, two sides, a bed, anda tailgate disposed at the rear end of the bed; the tailgate having twosides and movable between open and closed positions; the methodcomprising the steps of: (a) providing a tailgate position indicatorhaving a connector adapted to connect the tailgate position indicatordirectly to the tailgate; the tailgate position indicator also having anindicator rod extending away from the connector; (b) connecting theconnector of the tailgate position indicator to the tailgate with theindicator rod extending across one of the sides of the tailgate andbeyond one of the sides of the vehicle; the connector securing thetailgate position indicator to the tailgate so that the tailgateposition indicator moves with the tailgate when the tailgate is movedbetween the open and closed positions; (c) placing the vehicle intonormal day-to-day use wherein the tailgate is repeatedly opened andclosed; (d) during normal use of the vehicle, viewing a portion of theindicator rod in the side view mirror; and (e) determining the positionof the tailgate by viewing the location of the portion of the indicatorrod viewed in the side view mirror.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the step of opening and closing the tailgate after step (b)to determine if the connector interferes with the intended operation ofthe tailgate.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step ofadjusting the length of the indicator rod with respect to the vehicle sothat a portion of the rod extends beyond the side of the truck to aposition where the portion of the indicator rod can be seen in the sideview mirror.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step ofadjusting the length of the indicator rod by removing a section of theindicator rod.
 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step ofadjusting the length of the indicator rod by sliding the indicator rodwith respect to the connector.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein step(b) includes the step of positioning the indicator rod in a horizontalorientation.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) includes thestep of providing the connector in the form of a resilient clip and step(b) includes the step of sliding the resilient clip onto a portion ofthe tailgate.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step ofstopping the vehicle and closing the tailgate if step (e) results in adetermination that the tailgate is open.
 9. A method of improving thesafety of using a vehicle having a tailgate by using a tailgate positionindicator to allow the driver to determine the position of a tailgate atany time during normal use of the vehicle wherein the vehicle has a cab,a side view mirror, two sides, a bed, and a tailgate disposed at therear end of the bed; the tailgate having two sides and movable betweenopen and closed positions; the method comprising the steps of: (a)providing a tailgate position indicator having a connector adapted toconnect the tailgate position indicator directly to the tailgate; thetailgate position indicator also having an indicator rod extending awayfrom the connector; (b) moving the tailgate to its closed position; (c)connecting the connector of the tailgate position indicator to thetailgate; (d) adjusting the position of the indicator rod with respectto the tailgate to position the indicator rod across one of the sides ofthe tailgate and beyond one of the sides of the vehicle; (e) placing thevehicle into normal day-to-day use wherein the tailgate is repeatedlyopened and closed; (f) during normal use of the vehicle, viewing aportion of the indicator rod in the side view mirror; and (g)determining the position of the tailgate by viewing the location of theportion of the indicator rod viewed in the side view mirror.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, further comprising the step of adjusting the lengthof the indicator rod by removing a section of the indicator rod.
 11. Themethod of claim 9, further comprising the step of adjusting the lengthof the indicator rod by sliding the indicator rod with respect to theconnector.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein step (c) includes the stepof positioning the indicator rod in a horizontal orientation.
 13. Themethod of claim 9, wherein step (a) includes the step of providing theconnector in the form of a resilient clip and step (c) includes the stepof sliding the resilient clip onto a portion of the tailgate.
 14. Themethod of claim 9, further comprising the step of stopping the vehicleand closing the tailgate if step (g) results in a determination that thetailgate is open.